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Security provided to Anil Ambani

     New Delhi: The Central government has asked Delhi and Mumbai Police to provide security to Reliance Industries Managing Director and Vice Chairman Anil Ambani after he reported receiving threat calls. Ambani, a Rajya Sabha member, had written to the Centre government about two months ago that he had been receiving threatening calls and requested for necessary action, sources said. Indicating that the issue had been looked into by intelligence agencies, the sources said the center government asked the police authorities both in Delhi and Mumbai to provide Anil with necessary security. It was, however, not clear as to who was behind the threat calls, they said. Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal was quoted by a TV channel as saying that the Centre was asking the Mumbai police to provide "Y" class security to Anil Ambani.

CPI(M) in a spot over Centre's stand vis-a-vis Modi (Go To Top)
by Gautam Ghosh

     Kolkata: The Marxists are in a spot over the Centre's defence of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi vis-a- vis the United States' decision to deny him visa because of his controversial role in communal riots in the state. The party also appears split on the question of supporting the Patent Bill in its present form as a section of CPI(M) leaders apprehend a sharp rise in drug prices in its wake. There have, of late, been other hitches between the Congress-led UPA government and the Marxists which have put a question mark on the rationale behind the party's continued support to the Centre.

     The Centre's strong defence of Modi in the wake of the US denial of visa to him has come as a surprise to the CPI(M) which has always regarded secularism as one of the guiding principles of the UPA government. The party had expected the Centre to adopt at least "a neutral stand" regarding the US denial of visa to the Gujarat chief minister. The Marxists felt this would have isolated the Sangh Parivar in the international arena and affected its political base in the country. However, unlike the CPI(M), the Congress high command feared an adverse political backlash in the country if it accepted the US decision without protests. The CPI(M) has not publicly expressed its discomfiture over the Centre's defence of Modi, but made it clear that it is not happy over the development. This was apparent from CPM MP Nilotpal Basu's remark that the BJP should know why Modi has been denied a US visa.

     The CPI(M) has never tried to conceal its hatred for the Gujarat chief minister since the National Human Rights Commission implicated him in the communal carnage. The party took a leading role in campaigning against Modi at the national level and castigated the BJP leadership for their failure to replace him. The CPI(M)'s youth and student wings in West Bengal also organised black flag demonstrations during the Gujarat chief minister's recent visit to the city. The Patent Bill is another factor over which the CPI(M) leadership has been caught on the wrong foot. While moderates in the party feel their pressure has forced the Centre to make necessary changes in the controversial Bill, the hardcore leaders, particularly those from Kerala, are still vehemently opposed to certain provisions. Other Left Front partners like the RSP and the CPI are yet to give their consent to the Bill. According to informed sources, the CPI(M) politburo is still under pressure to rethink the party's stand.

     The Marxists have also noticed with dismay the Centre's refusal to side with Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on his abortive move to seek Presidential intervention in the Supreme Court order regarding Jharkhand. Chatterjee felt the government should have asked President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to deal with the apex court's pro-active role in Jharkhand developments. As the Centre refused to act, Chatterjee had to remain content with organising a conference of Assembly Speakers which was, however, boycotted by the BJP-ruled states for obvious reasons.

India gives list of 40 bus passengers, Pak list awaited (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: India today submitted its list of 40 people who had applied to travel on the first bus from Srinagar to Muzzafarabad on April 7. However, a similar list from the Pakistani side is still awaited. The first list, which was decided on a first come first serve basis, mainly comprises of the people from divided families from Rajouri, Poonch and other bordering districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 40 who had applied for the bus journey costing Rs 750, only 30 would be cleared in the first lot and the remaining would be put on the waiting list, to be accommodated in the second bus in May.

    The Pakistani foreign office spokesman, Jalil Abbas Jilani, however, ruled out any chance of the media being allowed to travel on the April 7 bus. Liaqat Hussain, the Deputy Commissioner of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), represented Pakistan side at Tuesday's meeting, while the Regional Passport Officer at Srinagar represented India. It is not, however, clear as to how much time both sides would take for the verification process. Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Liaqat Hussain, was according to Pakistani dailies, given "the authority" to exchange the applications with his Indian counterpart, who will in all probability be the Regional Passport Officer at Srinagar. Quoting informed sources, the papers said that a list and application forms of 45 Pakistani citizens would be handed over to the Indian authorities, and out of these, 30 would be issued permits for the trans-LoC travel after clearance by the Indian side.

     On Sunday, the Chief Secretary of Pakistan-held Kashmir, Kashif Murtaza, reviewed the arrangements for the bus service. Officials said that a temporary checkpoint/bus terminal was being set up in a government building close to the New Civil Secretariat while work on another terminal in Chakothi was also in progress. A revenue department official, Khawaja Ejaz, had been appointed as terminal manager in Chakothi, they added. The Prime Minister of Pakistan-held Kashmir, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, is also expected to visit Chakothi today for a personal inspection.

     The bus from the Indian side took its first test ride to Uri on March 18. The fully air conditioned 19 seater bus was displayed at the Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) yard in Srinagar. The bus is manufactured by Ashok Leyland and its cost is above 20 lakh rupees. The test ride to Uri was aimed at checking the feasability of various bridges. After the test ride, the bus was sent to Jammu for other technical upgradation. Locals on the Indian side of Kashmir have expressed their happiness over the resumption of the bus service

     From a business point of view, this landmark pact provides enormous potential for economic interaction as well as growth.

    Meanwhile, Kashmiris on either side of the LoC have been lining up by the hundreds to get the travel permits to ride on the cross-border bus. Pakistani officials have said that as much as 90 percent of the seats on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service to be launched on April 7 will be reserved for Kashmiris. Officials said that the bus service would primarily cater for the Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

    On Monday, Kashmiris jostled to get forms in the hope to see their family members on the other side of the border, even as the second round of permits opened in Srinagar.  During the day, 250 forms were issued.

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